The Benefits of Marijuana Legalization - Essay Example

"The Benefits of Marijuana Legalization" is a wonderful example of a paper on medical ethics.
The number of individuals who support the legalization of marijuana is increasing daily. The prohibition of the drug is ill-founded since other substances that are legalized, such as alcohol and cigarettes, are more lethal to human life than marijuana. I disagree with the classification of marijuana as a schedule 1 substance by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), since it has both medical and recreational use. Those who support the legalization of marijuana believe that legislation that prohibits the use of the drug was mainly based on racist sentiments. The current policy that illegalizes the use of marijuana would result in undeniable medical, recreational, and economic benefits to the government. Therefore, marijuana should remain legal because it alleviates symptoms associated with several health conditions, increases revenue for the government, and create millions of jobs.

Proponents who support the legalization of marijuana believe that it has initially been banned because of political reasons, but not because it was a harmful substance. When marijuana is compared to other substances, such as cigarettes, research reveals that it is less addictive, with a much lower risk of abuse. The relatively low trend of abuse of marijuana mainly contributes to the fact that it results in fewer deaths compared to other substances that are legalized. There is no proof that the prohibition of the drug is more likely to decrease its use. Unfortunately, marijuana is among the drugs that are not too harmful that have been rendered illegal by most governments globally.

There have been several efforts to legalize marijuana in recent years. Although some people believe that the drug can have health and safety effects on users, which can be legal and illegal, there are several benefits to society at large, just like any other ordinary drug. In essence, much debate has been focusing on the legalization of the drug, with an unusual contradiction of the same magnitude. Whether the discussions focus on medical, political as well as economic perspectives, in my view, marijuana has several benefits, which makes it a potential drug that supports the economy and wellbeing of society; hence should remain legal.

Methodology

According to a study conducted by Keyhani et al. (2018), there are several beneficial effects associated with the consumption of Marijuana. The researcher used public views to understand the risks and benefits of the drug. The findings revealed that the drug has both psychotic and psychological effects on users. These comprise of relaxation and the feeling of being high. Besides, marijuana is used to relieve pain, boost heart rate, control nausea, dilate blood vessels, decrease blood pressure, and muscle spasticity. Keyhani et al. (2018) observed that the legalization of the drug is an alternative to promote medicine and enhance agricultural innovation. The drug has been used for a variety of health conditions for several years.

In a study conducted by Todd (2018), there are proven facts that indicate that the drug is beneficial to society. The researcher surveyed the top reasons why the drug should be legalized and controlled through regulation and taxation. The findings demonstrate that medical uses of marijuana are essential because the chemicals can be used to treat diseases or various conditions associated with the ailments; hence should be legalized.

According to Albertson et al. (2018), it is evident that medical marijuana relieves associated with multiple sclerosis as well as nerve pain in general. The researcher conducted a case study on the changing drug culture of marijuana. The findings revealed that marijuana could be used for medical purposes since this is an area where there are few medical options available. The few available include opiates, Neurontin, or Lyrica, which have been observed to be highly sedating. The findings demonstrate that the drug provides an opportunity for individuals to resume their previous jobs without completely feeling disengaged.

Discussion

Based on the review, it is evident that the legalization of marijuana can boost the economy since tax revenue has increased every year for every state that has legalized medical and recreational use. It is also clear that if more states legalized the drug, the cost of marijuana enforcement would decrease, hence save the country billions of dollars. The opportunities for investment in marijuana are limitless and can benefit society, national, and state governments.

The findings indicate that groups supporting the legalization of the substance focus on recreational, health, and economic benefits. It is clear that most economies globally have been affected by the current unemployment rates. The legalization of marijuana would provide employment opportunities for many people. Growth in the sector would require more employees, processing plants, and retail outlets. The growth of the industry due to the legalization of the drug would also depend on other businesses for survival; hence will make economies grow.

Position Statement

In my view, marijuana should be legalized due to the health and recreational benefits associated with the plant and the income that people derive from it. Marijuana should be legalized because of its health benefits, which include pain management, reduction of inflammation, sleep management, and treatment of neurological and health conditions. The drug is also used for recreational purposes, which mainly occurs in social situations. The economic benefit of legalizing the drug is associated with an increase in employment opportunities. Governments could also benefit from the tax returns; hence legalizing the drug can stabilize the economic environment of a country.